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THE 



LAND OF THE FREE, 



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OR, 



A BRIEF VIEW OF EMANCIPATION 



IN THE WEST INDIES. 



BY 



K WOOLLEY. 



MISSIONARY FROM JAMAICA. 

PART I. 

"THB 8PIEIT OF LIBERTY THAT STRIKES THE CHAIN FROM THE SLAVS 
BINDS THE FREEMAN TO HIS BROTHER. " 



CINCINNATI. 

PRINTED BY CALEB CLARK, 

1847. 












Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 
By E. Wool i. 
in the Clerk's Office for the District Court of Ohio. 

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A 
1 



0^ 



THE 



LAND OF THE FREE, 



OR, 



A BRIEF VIEW OF EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA, 

The design of this work is to give an impartial account of the 
past and present state of the West Indies— to record the most inter- 
esting events of the last twenty years— to afford a general view of 
the great success attending Missionary operations— and to give a 
plain statement of facts, relative to the "working and results of 
emancipation"— so highly important to the Christian, Philanthro- 
pist and Statesman. In his determination to present the Truth only, 
the author asks from the reader a candid— a manly inquiry and judg- 
ment ; and hopes that the tidings he brings from the Land of the Free 
in the Western Ocean will be welcome to every lover of Free Insti- 
tutions in this great country. 

The opponents of Emancipation, and the advocates of non-inter- 
ference with this peculiar question, have often appealed in justifica- 
tion of their doctrines, and as a triumphant proof of the folly of Ab- 
olitionists, to the reports given of the failure of the scheme in the 
British West India Islands. The correctness of such reports may be 
judged of from these pages, the object of which will be to give a brief 
sketch of the subject, founded on the testimony of eye witnesses. A 
more extended view of the position of affairs in all its details may 
hereafter be laid before the public. At present the Island of Jamaica 
will come under review, relative to which, the writer can declare 
much of what his own eyes have seen, and his ears have heard. He 
fears'no contradiction, he is prepared to defy any who will be bold 
enough to question what is advanced, 

Having met with considerable want of knowledge of the history 
and condition of this Island, it is thought necessary to give a short 



THE HISTORY AND 

outline thereof at the onset, to render what may be alluded to, as we 
proceed, intelligible to the reader: This will absolutely require much 
brevity ; — the copious details now in our possession must be parti- 
ally laid aside ; — some cramped into the confined compass of these 
few pages, — and the beauties of style and of full description give 
place to a bare statement of important facts. The reader is partic- 
ularly requested, not to think that the whole picture is here present- 
ed, — what is advanced is but a sample sketch of what a better artist 
than the present could depict, — a picture that would gain the admira- 
tion of every true lover of beauty, truth, and humanity. 



THE HISTORY AND CONDITION OF JAMAICA UP TO THE 

YEAR 1332. 

Jamaica is a mountainous Island near the Gulf of Mexico, about 180 
miles long and 60 miles broad. It was discovered by Columbus in 
his second voyage in 1494, and became a Spanish Colony. Its con- 
dition as such was truly wretched. In the course of sixty years its 
inoffensive Indian inhabitants, amounting to nearly 100,000, were 
exterminated, either through their dreadful sufferings while digging 
in the mines for the Spaniards, or by the wanton barbarity of their 
masters. "It was also a frequent practice among them," as one of 
their historians informs us, (human nature shudders at the tale,) 

"to murder hundreds of these poor creatures, merely to keep 
"their hands in use. They were eager in displaying an emulation 
" which of them could most dexterously strike off the head of a man 
" at a blow, and wagers frequently depended on this horrid exercise. 
* * * They had the impudence Uo suppose themselves religious, 
"and the tea of heaven! Some of these most religious 

M adorer- of tin Holy Virgin forced their unhappy captives into the 
"water. after administering to them the rites of baptism, 

"cut their throats the next moment, to prevent their apostacy ! — 
" Others made and kept a vow to hang or burn thirteen every morn- 
" ing in honor of Christ and his apostles ! !" — Bridges. 

in 1G55 it became by conquest a British Colony. Its political con- 
stitution has greatly changed since that period. From the rule of 
martial law, and from a mere dependence upon the crown of Eng- 
land, it has advanced to a position in which its inhabitants not only 



CONDITION OF JAMAICA. * 

possess all the immunities and privileges of British subjects— but 
make by their representatives, their own laws and taxation. The 
Legislature is composed of a Governor, Council and House of Assem- 
bly The former is appointed by the Queen, and is her representa- 
tive' The Council is also appointed by, the Queen at the recommen- 
dation of the Governor, and supplies the place of the "House of 
Lords"— and the Assembly is- composed of 47 Representatives of all 
freeholders having a freehold of the annual value of thirty dollars, 
and of tax payers to the amount of fifteen dollars per annum. The 
Representatives must have a qualification consisting of a freehold of 
$1500 per annum, or a real or personal estate of $1500. The Gov- 
ernor, Chief Justice, Attorney General, Bishop, the Commander of 
the Forces, and the Chancellor, are all members of the Council, "ex 
officio; 1 ' the others, twelve in number, are selected from the most 
opulent in the Island. There are twenty three parishes, about the 
size of a county in this country ,-in each of which a Vestry, com- 
posed of ten Vestrymen and two Churchwardens annually elected 
by the qualified parishioners, also of the Justices of the Peace, and 
the Rector, conducts the parochial business and raises taxes for its 

expenses. 

The Episcopal church enjoys, or rather abuses, the almost undi- 
vided favors of the State. Of late years the church expenditure in 
the Island has been upwards of $300,000 per annum—and this has 
been raised by a taxation obviously made to bear heavily on the 
emancipated laborers. Added to this, the Rectors are members of 
the Vestry ex officio, and they take good care to exercise their func- 
tions for their great advantage. The system of Church patronage 
in Jamaica is replete with robbery, and disgrace, and requires a long 
chapter to expose its mischievous doings. The church expenditure 

provided by the House of Assembly in 1838 was 
F ' F ... $100,000 

upwards ot 

In 1844 it was about " 140 ' 

The parochial church expenditure in 1844 was 

in addition to the above about ... -75,0 

The amounts have increased the last two years, and it is supposed that 
a sum of not less than $300,000 has been annually drawn from the 
pockets of the tax payers for religious purposes since 1838. The 
annual amount of Taxation, public and parochial, so far as we can 
estimate, has been about two millions of dollars ever since the intro- 
duction of Freedom. More on this subject cannot be added now, net 



8 



HISTORY AI 



shall we be able to introduce any reference to the exports and im- 



ports of the Island. It is sufficient to say that immediately upon 
becoming a British Colony, though surrounded with inconceivable 
difficulties, it began to flourish. In 14 years from the date of its 
conquest, there were nearly 200 properties producing sugar, cocoa, 
pimento and indigo, and this prosperity increased every year. It 
was, however, the theatre of the most cruel exhibition of slavery, and 
just in proportion to the golden harvests reaped, did the groans of 
oppressed thousands rise up in agony to heaven for vengeance. The 
prolific nature of its soil was such that with the rudest culture it 
yielded so bountifully that the proprietors in England lived like 
princes. The richest men envied a West Indian proprietor, who by 
indulgence and display in luxury and extravagance astonished all be- 
holders. This prosperity was in a great measure sustained at first by 
buccaneering, and afterwards the city of Kingston monopolizing the 
Spanish American trade, became the most flourishing and wealthy 
emporium of the Western world. This state of things, however, was 
very uncertain — and the fluctuations in the affairs of the Island fur- 
nish a sad proof that the basis on which its flourishing condition 
was founded, could never be the correct and safe one. Storms, hur- 
ricanes, fearful earthquakes, insurrections, — the midnight dread of 
the tyrant, often swept these sons of inordinate luxury, into an abyss 
of irremediable disaster. A committee of the Jamaica House of 
Assembly reported, that between the years 1772 and 1792 the num- 
ber of estates sold for debt was 177— and 54 were "thrown up," and 
92 remained in the hands of creditors. "Bryan Edwards," the his- 
torian, states in 1798, that nothing could have saved the planters 
from ruin but the advanced price of sugar in England. The whole 
fabric of the political and commercial economy was tainted with the 
poison of slavery — and had it not been for the late great changes, the 
present policy of free trade would have overwhelmed the planters in 
hopeless ruin. 

At the period we now write of, nothing contributed more to alarm 
the planters, than the efforts of the slaves to obtain their freedom, 
and the horrid superstitions of the African priests or Obeah men. — 
The accounts of such disasters are truly awful. Secret poisoning of 
cattle, slaves, and white people, was more frequent than the open in- 
surrection — but all added together, rendered the fortune and happi- 

13 of the proprietor very precarious. The whites, especially in 
the interior of the country, seldom partook of a meal without mak« 



CONDITION OF JAMAICA. 9 

ing one of their slaves, generally the cook himself, eat a portion of 
the food ; a method of safety that powerfully suggests the fearful 
state of society at that period. Terrible retribution was given to 
these Obeah men when detected, and to the leaders of every insur- 
rection. Accounts are recorded of one w"ho was roasted to death by 
a slow fire, — and of another who was hung alive in chains arKings- 
ton, where he lingered without food or water for nine days, beneath 
the burning rays of the tropical sun. These cruel tortures, and the 
constant vigilance of the planters, could not repress the natural 
desire for liberty that burned in the breast of the slave. Suicide 
was a common resort, and the mountains sheltered the runaway. — 
These mountains, for the Island is one vast accumulation of hills, 
heaped and piled one above the other, often afforded safe and happy 
retreats for the wretched negroes. Here, however, they were hunt- 
ed with dogs, and often preferred death in the struggle for freedom, 
than the bondage of their task master. Poison was resorted to by 
the slaves to gratify their revenge. The writer has often conversed 
with those who were eye witnesses of these deeds. 

To say, that misery, licentiousness and all the cruel concomitants 
of slavery reigned supreme in the land, is but the imperfect truth. 
It requires time, and the rarest eloquence to describe the fearful de- 
gradation of every class in the Island, and the horrid barbarities 
practised on the plantations. There was little or no religion in the 
Island for more than a century, and when the Missionaries first 
arrived they met with the strongest opposition and persecution in 
their benevolent labors. The slaves maintained their African su- 
perstitions, and for a long period there was nothing but a corrupt 
church (Episcopal,) that kept up anything that had even the appear- 
ance of religion. In answer to inquiries made in the British Parlia- 
ment in 1790, as to the religious instruction of the slaves, Mr. Fuller, 
Agent for Jamaica, and two others, answered that they knew of 
none. "As to sending Missionaries among them," said Mr. Edwards 
in the House of Commons in 1796, referring to one of the African 
tribes, " I speak from my own knowledge when I say, that they are 
cannibals, and that instead of listening to a Missionary, they would 
certainly eat him." The writer knows a young woman whose little 
brother was eaten by a slave not much more than 20 years ago.—- 
He confessed the deed on his dying bed. 

In 1800 there were only 20 churches (Episcopal,) in the Island, 
which would only seat about 3000 persons out of a population of 



10 



THE INSURRECTION. 



400 000 and from all the evidence afforded, there was not a pious 
clergyman or layman to be found in the whole Island. At a much 
later period the Rev. Mr. Hughes, an Episcopal Minister in Jamaica, 
alluding to the slaves says, "To bring them to the knowledge of 
"the christian religion is undoubtedly a great and good design, in 
"the intention laudable, and in speculation easy, yet 1 believe, for 
"reasons too tedious to mention, that the difficulties attending 
"it are, and I am persuaded ever will be, insurmountable." — 
This class of clergymen seemed to act upon this belief, and 
seldom cared for more than the usual burial and -christening 
fees, at so much per head, ceremonies, which the slaves called 
"White man's Obeah." The moral and religious state of the 
white inhabitants, if it be not paradoxical to suppose that any 
existed, was comparatively worse than that of the slaves. Addicted to 
every vice, they lived like atheists. It is needless to enumerate a 
list of crimes and evil habits, when Mr. Long, the historian, sums up 
the catalogue, in the following sweeping declaration. " Many, says 
he, "had much fewer good qualities than the slaves over whom tl 
"were set in authority, the I sort of wh irtily despised 

"them, perceiving little or n l | n 

" skin, and blacker depravity." This state of affairs continued with- 
out improvement until the Wesleyan, Baptist and Presbyterian Mis- 
sionaries arrived in the Island. They met with insult, persecution, 
imprisonment and every species <rf opposition and contumely. Not- 
withstanding all these obstacles, they succeeded in doing much good, 
among the free people of color and the slaves. Churches were built, 
congregations gathered, schools were erected— and in despite of 
the difficulties V the work, they were very successful. Their 
plans were not only ridiculed, but opposed, yet they have been 
followed with the most blessed results. Their career of useful- 
ness was, however, soon stopped, and the insurrection seemed to des- 
troy all hope that they could commence again. 

THE INSURRECTION OF 1831 AND 1832. 

This rebellion, as it is often called, demands special consideration, 
more perhaps than can be given to it in this narrative. It must be 
borne in mind that for some years previous, the noble band of Abo- 
litionists in England had been striving to obtain the full liberty of 
the Island. This had every year, in connection with other local 
movements on behalf of the political freedom of the free people of 
color, caused much annoyance and angry expression of feeling in the 



THE INSURRECTION 11 

Jamaica legislature. But as soon as the British Parliament and the 
government, determined to ameliorate the condition of the slaves, and 
sent some special directions in 1831 to the Colonial Legislature, the 
rage of the House of Assembly knew no bounds. The most violent 
demonstrations were made, and threats of rebellion against the home 
government were openly made and published. These angry debates 
between the two countries were the common talk of the planters, and 
the chief subject of discussion among the newspapers. The impres- 
sion made upon the slaves, who had constant opportunity to listen to 
the conversation of their masters may easily be seen. They sup- 
posed that the " King of England had sent them free papers which 
the planters would not give them. '' This impression became'stronger 
and more extensive, and gained ground rapidly, owing to the follow- 
ing circumstances: The overseers often taunted their wretched vic- 
tims upon this subject, alluding to the efforts of Abolitionists in Eng- 
land, and declaring that they never would consent to emancipation. 
This declaration expressed in an excited and malicious manner, 
accompanied, in some instances, with threats that they would shoot 
all the slaves rather than let them be freed, aroused the dormant 
courage and spirit of the slaves, and suggested to them the expedi- 
ency, if not propriety, of making a direct effort to obtain what Eng- 
land was endeavoring to bestow. 

Another circumstance that augmented their resolution was, the 
reading by the slaves of the debates in the Legislatures of both 
countries. There was a colored lad employed in a printing office 
who, of course, heard more of the parliamentary news than others. 
He secretly obtained the newspapers and carried them to his friends in 
the country. Some could read a little, and these precious messages 
of hope and liberty were deciphered at night to an anxious and eager 
crowd. What a scene ! The dark, half naked figures of the slaves 
just visible in the dim shadowy light of a flickering lamp; — their 
eyes alone sparkling in the darkness as they bend over each other, 
listening with beating hearts to the slow words of the reader, who, 
with great difficulty, is spelling out the news of freedom. Who can 
describe the emotions of such assemblies, as they alternate between 
hope and fear, and at last resolve to claim their liberty, though at 
the risk of their hearts blood ? Who would 'wish to goad on the 
slave to such a desperate step ? This news so imperfectly con- 
veyed, and imperfectly understood, indelibly stamped upon their 
minds that the " free paper " had come and the planters would not 



i j THE INSURRECTION. 

give it up. They therefore determined to claim their freedom. To 
elFect this, they held secret meetings, and bound themselves by a b< 
emn oath not to divulge their plans. They resolved that after the 
Xmas holidays in 1831, which usually last one week, they would "sit 
down,'' that is, cease from work until the planters gave up the " free 
paper " and paid them wages. 

This conspiracy — if such a sensible and righteous resolution can be 
called so — became in a short time very extensive, but its original 
character became much altered, aud more dangerous. The origina- 
tor cf the scheme, named Samuel Sharpe, was a deacon in the Bap- 
tist church, Montego Bay, and a most intelligent, pious and good 
man. He conducted the plan on "peace principles? and when others 
suggested the necessity of getting firearms, he opposed it with all 
his might, declaring his firm conviction that no man under any cir- 
cumstances had a right to take the life of a fellow being. His 
views, however, were not those of most, of his companions, and 
greatly to his sorrow, they began to procure ammunition. In the 
subsequent events. Samuel Sharpe did not join in the " disturbances, " 
but used all his influence to prevent bio , The treatment this 

noble minded slave received from his white masters, will be related 

presently. 

The plan of action was now ripe, but some indistinct rumors of 
it had reached the ears of the authorities. In the last week of De- 
cember, 1831, the " rebels" assembled in the interior of St. James, 
and Hanover parishes. Most of these slaves were ignorant— many 
of them had no notion of the object of their meeting ; some were 
runaways, and though organized into companies, they had no partic- 
ular or definite course of action. The whites fied at the first sound 
of the rising, and the blacks immediately advanced upon the deserted 
estates. Having indulged themselves in the good cheer and li- 
quors found in the houses, they were easily excited to set fire to the 
atcs. Tins being once done, furnished a sort of pretext, or exam- 
ple, to them, which they followed wherever they went. They at last 
seemed to be quite maddened by revenge or despair. They 
traversed a large portion of the country, and within three days des- 
troyed nearly 100 sugar and other plantations and settlements. Tho 
militia fied at their approach ;— the vast numbers of slaves on the 
deserted properties, not knowing the secret, and dreading the anger, 
both of rebels and militia, fled and hid themselves in the forest and 
bush. The rebels had compelled all they found, to join them under 



THE INSURRECTION. 13 

pain of death ; but in all their pillage they only killed two white 
men, one for his known cruelty, and the other was slain by a drunk- 
en set who were strangers to that part of the parish, and did not 
know him. So great was the panic of the whites, that not only was 
the country deserted, but many families left their houses, embarking 
on board the vessels in the harbors. If the slaves had known any- 
thing of warfare, they could easily have marched into Montego Bay, 
the town next in importance to Kingston, and laid it in ashes. The 
militia and inhabitants kept watch ; but their number Was nothing 
in comparison to the thousands of the assembled rebels, and one house 
on fire would soon spread the flame of destruction through the town, 
composed as it is, of most combustible materials. The flames of the 
surrounding country were awful in the extreme, and though every 
hour increased the danger, and their nearer approach to the" town 
was expected, the slaves did not attempt to injure it. They seemed 
to think neither of revenge nor plunder, but contented themselves 
with these destructive bonfires and the plentiful provisions found in 
the overseers' houses. 

Meanwhile the authorities recovered from their fright, and organ- 
ized companies of militia to disperse the rebels. Revenge and rage 
at the destruction of their property, added fire to their zeal, and 
they soon succeeded. Thousands of the rebels were scattered, with 
a mere handful of men, and hundreds perished to glut the appetite 
of insatiable anger. Every slave was considered guilty. Those who 
had been compelled by the rebels to join them— those who through 
fear had secreted themselves, and those even who remained at home, 
were alike suspected, hunted, taken prisoners, condemned, and hung, 
or shot, without trial. The roads were strewn with dead bodies, the 
food of the carrion birds; the heads of the principal men were placed 
on poles, or on the gates of the estates to which they belonged, and 
the condemned were often taken to th,eir homes to be hung in the 
presence of their families and friends, as a warning to the surviving. 
Blood flowed in one continual stream. In the woods, the militia hun- 
ters shot down any and all who fled at their approach. In the court 
martial, it was enough for a witness to say, or the prisoner to ac- 
knowledge, that he had been with the rebels, or that he was a mem- 
ber of a Baptist Church, the sentence of death was instantaneous — 
« Take him (or her) out and shoot him.'" Many are the living now, 
who can give startling accounts of the hair-breadth escapes of them- 
selves and their friends, and of the barbarous cruelties inflicted upon 
these hapless people. 



14 THE INSURRECTION. 

Great anxiety was shown to find out the instigator of the rebellion. 
Suspicion fell upon the Baptist Missionaries, and every attempt, even 
to the procuring of false witnesses, (the names have been given to 
the world.) was resorted to, but failed. They were in several instan- 
ces tried for their lives, but their characters were uninjured by the 
fierce trial they had to pass through. The real author, the brave 
Samuel Sharpc, at last came from his secret hiding place, and deliv- 
ered himself up, saying that he was the originator of the insurrec- 
tion, and that to prevent the shedding of innocent blood, he came to 
confess the deed. On his trial, he stated his views and justified him- 
self ; and while expressing his sorrow and abhorrence, at the devas- 
tation caused by his fellow companions in toil, he declared that he 
hud no part in these deeds, having used his best efforts to prevent 
them. He boldly asserted his right to be free; that God had made 
him so, andnhat he was not doing wrong in trying to obtain by peace- 
able means, what was his birth-right. He was of course sentenced 
to death. He died in composure, and in the faith of the Gospel. 
Just as he was struggling on the gallows, the Chief Magistrate of the 
parish, now alive, was near, glutting his eyes with the dreadful 
scene. Rubbing his hands, he exclaimed, "Oh the luxury of Re- 
venge!!" He has always taken care to indulge his appetite for this 
luscious delicacy. His name is Lawson. Samuel Sharpe was has- 
tily buried on the sea shore. The spot was marked by a small foot- 
board, placed there by the affectionate hand of a relative. Some 
nine years afterwards, another band of conspirators met one night, 
with carriage, box, shovel and pickaxe, and by the light of the moon, 
after considerable difficulty, dug up the coffin, and conveyed it to the 
town. The writer assisted in arranging the bones in a coffin, and 
after a few weeks, attended the funeral of the murdered man. He 
was interred in a vault, prepared for the purpose, under the pulpit 
of the Baptist Chapel, in Montego Bay, in the presence of many 
sorrowing friends and relatives. Several Missionaries engaged in 
the services, and a very solemn and impressive scene it was. The 
burial took place privately, for fear of any public excitement. The 
following was published in the Jamaica " Baptist Herald and Friend 
of Africa," of March, 1843: 

•'Lines on beholding the remains of Samuel Sharpe, the negro 
« slave Martyr, who was executed at Montego Bay, on the 23d of May, 
" 1832. His bones were disinterred on the 1st of April, 1841, and 
"they were interred in the Baptist Chapel of Montego Bay, on the 
" 9th of May or June, the same year. 1 ' 



THE INSURRECTION. 15 

The Demon of Thraldom rushed on like a flood, 

And the land of its guilt was empurpled with blood, 

For long had it rolled in its maddened career, 

E'er thy corse, honored Sharpe, was stretched out on its bier. 

The Martyr has fallen, but the palm of the Free 

Waves proud o'er the British West Indian Sea. 

Thou wast nurtured a Captive — a Captive expired, 
For the wrongs of the Captive thy spirit had fired; 
Whilst the chill that sat brooding o'er slavery's blast, 
Did but brighten the flame that consumed thee at last. 

The Martyr is fallen ! 

"Advance to. the Conquest !'* re-echoed thy zeal, 
And the truth with thy blood thou did'st nobly seal; 
For thy banner was white,. and thy bosom sincere, 
And the soft voice of Freedom saluted thine ear. 

The Martyr is fallen! 

And the chariot has borne thee a victor on high, 
Whilst Faith- views the light of thy path to the sky; 
See ! thy mantle descends on the African brow, 
And the Jordan of sadness is severing now. 

The Martyr is fallen! 

Short, short was the reign of thine enemies' ire, 
Soon quenched was the glare of old Tyranny's fire; 
And the chain that had shackled the down trodden slave, 
With Oppression's dread self was consigned to the grave. 

The Martyr is fallen ! 

America! quails for the cry and the groan 

Of reft Ethiop's sons are gone up to the Throne, 

And some Sharpe,' yet unknown, may be rousing the storm, 

That will blight thy fair prospects and wither thine arm; 

A Martyr may fall, but the palm of the free 

Must soon proudly wave o'er thy blase-stricken sea. 

The Spirit of Freedom moves forth o'er the deep, 
And the elements wake from the silence of sleep; 
True, the strife may be fierce, but the Herald of Light 
Speaks of Beauty, and Order, and Quiet, and Right, 
Move on, blessed Agent! till all shall be free, 
O'er every nation and every sea. 
Lucea, Jamaica. Rev. JOHN MAY. 

THE EFFECTS OF THE INSURRECTION. 
The rage of the whites, though spent with horrid fury upon the 
unhappy slaves, especially upon the religious portion of them, was 



16 THE EFFECTS OF 

far from being satiated. It turned against the Missionaries. On the 
27th December, 1031, Messrs, Knibb, Gardner, and other Baptist 
Missionaries, conducted the opening services of a new Chapel, at 
Salter's Hill, in the parish of St. James. They spoke so much in 
favor of peace and obedience, having been alarmed by some flying 
reports, that many of the excited slaves murmured, and said that 
they also were bribed by the planters. In a day or two, they were 
called upon to serve in the militia, and upon their refusal were taken 
into custody and treated with much brutality. Mr. Knibb was taken 
from Falmouth in an open canoe, in the heat of the day, and confined 
in the Montego Bay Court-house. Though very unwell, he was not 
allowed to lie down for repose during the night, being threatened 
with the bayonet if he attempted so doing. He and his companions 
were taunted by the militia-men, as they came out and in, with the 
most fearful threats, and with the pleasure they should enjoy to see 
them on the morrow " hung on the trees by the road side to diversify 
the scenery,'? as one of the infamous editors had recommended. 
Two Wesleyan Missionaries were treated in a similar manner, and 
for several months most of those Missionaries and their fellow labor- 
ers were in danger of their lives; often the inmates of the prison, 
they were tried as rebels, and .subject to every kind of persecution. 

The history of this eventful period of tribulation, is too full of 
interesting material to be shrunk down into this brief summary. 
Suffice it to say that on the 3d of January, 1832, the militia, compo- 
sed of magistrates, merchants, lawyers, clergymen, and the chief 
men of the Island, not satisfied with the butchery they had perpe- 
trated, under the sanction of martial law, proceeded to demolish the 
Baptist and Wesleyan Chapels and dwellings. A list of the property 
destroyed, and of the mob, most of whom the writer knows, has been 
published. Fourteen Baptist Chapels, besides private houses and 
other valuable property,*were destroyed, amounting in value to 
§116,000. Six Wesleyan Chapels were demolished, with a loss of 
$30,000 in property. Part of the furniture was stolen, as well as 
the lumber ; and there are men now alive, called respectable, who 
still live in the house built with that lumber, and who retain the 
stolen goods. On the 7th of January, 1832, Messrs. Burchell, Dendy 
and others, arrived in the Island; the former having been a resident 
Missionary some years in Montego Bay. They were forbidden to 
land, and upon attempting to do so, they were fired at, and Mr. B. 
was slightly wounded with a bayonet. They were rescued by the 



THE INSURRECTION. 17 

i 

activity and strategy of a few determined friends, and some free 
people of color, and took refuge in a British vessel of war. Thence 
Mr. B. sailed for America. 

After several weeks of barbarous cruelty, the Governor, Earl of 
Belmore, was superseded by the Earl of Mulgrave, who as quickly 
as possible put a stop to these proceedings, removed the gallows and 
the heads of the sacrificed from public view, restored some degree 
of order, and lent all the influence of his high station for the pro- 
tection of the Missionaries. How much this was needed, may be 
gathered from the fact, that the whites had formed, at the instigation 
of the State Episcopal Church clergymen, a " Colonial Church 
Union," the members of which bound themselves — some with a sol- 
emn oath — never to rest, until every "sectarian preacher" was 
expelled from the Island. Their resolutions, published and placarded 
throughout the land, met with the approving acclamations of nearly 
all the white inhabitants, and a part of the free colored people. 

While these things were proceeding in Jamaica, and the Mission- 
aries were cast into prison or prohibited from preaching, and their 
desolate flocks scattered as sheep having no shepherd, — the incidents 
connected with which events would form an interesting history, — in 
England the most vigorous war was being waged against slavery, 
which promised soon to crown the friends of humanity with trium- 
phant victory. Messrs. Knibb and Burchell, Baptists, and Duncan 
and Barr-y, Wesleyans, were the Representatives of Jamaica, who, 
having awakened the public to a sense of duty, were soon aided by 
the united intelligence and piety of the whole kingdom. Mr. Knibb 
boldly declared, that Slavery and the Gospel never could co-exist ; 
that one must perish ; that the Colonial Church Union had declared 
this, and that he was determined to combat the foe until slavery died. 
Endowed with a most vigorous constitution, a powerful mind, a most 
feeling and affectionate heart, and withal an eloquence unsurpassed 
perhaps by any, William Knibb electrified the mind of England ; 
demonstrated the justice and truth of his cause, before both houses 
of Parliament, defeated the boldest of his enemies in public debates, 
and returned at last to the beloved land of his adoption to celebrate 
the victory of freedom. His name is enrolled with eternal honor on 
the scroll of fame. Many others, Mr. Burchell prominently, the 
Editors of the press, Ministers and members of every denomination 
aided in the battle and shared both toils and triumph. 

Overcoming a thousand obstacles, the result of these united and 






18 THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM. 

devoted efforts was that the reformed Parliament under Earl Grey, 
passed a law changing perpetual slavery into an apprenticeship for 
six years, and giving a compensation of 20 million pounds sterling 
to the planters. The Earl of Mulgrave by a wise and determined 
course, at length amidst innumerable difficulties induced the Jamaica 
Legislature to receive these proposals of the Home Government, but 
in consequence of domestic affliction, and the anxieties and annoyan- 
ces of this most arduous duty, he relinquished his office before the hap- 
py day arrived. The Marquis of Sligo was appointed to the pleas- 
ing duty of ushering in the first act of Freedom in 1834, usually 
called the apprenticeship, which he fulfilled in a most excellent man- 
ner. 

THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM. 

This was, as is well known, but a modification of slavery ; and 
although it was to exist but a short time, took away the irresponsi- 
ble power of the masters, made the children under six years of age 
free, admitted the apprentices to many civil privileges, and gave them 
many advantages, yet it was but a poor substitute for the freedom 
the friends of abolition had expected, labored for, and paid twenty 
millions to obtain. They were cheated, and the poor slave was de- 
ceived. It was also evident, as facts have since proved, that in some 
respects it was worse than slavery; and that its cruelties were such 
as to cause fear that many of its miserable victims would be destroy- 
ed before the future day of true liberty arrived. The punishments 
inflicted on the apprentices were more numerous and severe than in 
the time of slavery. "During the short period of two years 60,000, 
apprentices received 250,000 lashes, and 50,000 other punishments 
by the tread-wheel, the chain gang and other means of legalized tor- 
ture." 

The apprentices became more exasperated, and the terrors of a 
more fearful rebellion than the former was only averted by the in- 
fluence of the Governor, the Missionaries and a " faithful few " among 
the corrupt magistrates. The House of Assembly, the chief syn- 
agogue of slavery, did nothing to prevent these disasters, and treated 
the instructions of. the Home Government upon the subject of pro- 
viding a remedy with contempt. " The whipping of females," said 
the Marquis of Sligo to the House of Assembly in his address, "you 
"were informed by me, officially, was in practice ; and I called up- 
*« on you to make enactments to put an end to conduct so repugnant 



THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM. 19 

" to humanity, and so contrary to law.. So far from passing an act 
"to prevent the recurrence of such cruelty, you have in no way ex- 
" pressed your disapprobation of it.. I communicated to you my 
" opinion and that of the Secretary of the State, of the injustice of 
"cutting off the hair of females in the House of Correction previous 
" to trial. You have paid no attention to the subject." 

The annexed cut represents the tread-mill used to punish the re- 
fractory, or rather to gratify the planters' love of tyranny. The 
prisoners are tied by the- wrist to the horizontal pole above,- the man 
to the right sitting on a lever, can regulate the velocity of the wheel, 
and by sudden movements throws at his pleasure, every one on the 
wheel " out of step." The poor victims then hang till they can " re- 
cover their step,?' every bar of the revolving wheel lacerating their 
limbs. Ten or fifteen minutes was the longest time any were allow- 
ed to be on, and even then, some, especially the females, would be 
suspended by the wrist in a fainting fit nearly all the time. To the 
right of the picture is a woman in a swoon; another is having her hair 
cut off. To the left, an Overseer and " visiting Justice !" are witness- 
ing with great satisfaction the exercise of the " Triangles." The 
"chaingang" is just leaving this "House of Correction." These 
instruments of torture are now all destroyed. In 1840 Mr. Knibb 

at Exeter Hall said, — "When I went to (see) the treadmill — fori 
" have been there, and some have said I deserved to go there every 
" day — I asked permission to go upon it, but the supervisor said, Mr. 
" Knibb it is of no use — it is rusty. The fact is that ever since the.first 
"of August 1838, we never have been able to muster hands enough, 
"to turn it, and down it must come. And I say down let it come. 
" When it was erected, I stood by the custos of the parish who said,., 
"'Mr. Knibb dont you think we shall improve the morals of the peo- 
"ple by the mill ?" No no, replied I, if you have- any old gouty- 
" gentlemen it might improve their legs." 

Most of the special Magistrates, though appointed' by the English* 
government as the proper protectors of the apprentices^feasted with 
the planters, and became their mere tools of oppression./ The whole 
system was a complete failure-; it proved that nothing between slav- 
ery and freedom could exist, or be of any avail to prepare either 
master or slave for full emancipation., So convinced was Antigua of 
this doctrine that its Legislature would not consent to the Apprentice- 
ship, but introduced full freedom at once. Efforts- were soon made to 
annihilate it. Governors Sligo and Smith successively represented 
to the British Government its true character, and the former, a large 
proprietor in Jamaica,, proved the sincerity of his reports by libera- 
ting his apprentices. Messrs. Sturge and Harvey, after a full and! 



so 



THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM. 




CO 



H 

50 
GO 



GO 

o 

Oh 






a 



UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM. 21 

personal examination, exposed in their publication, the nefarious and 
evil workings of the scheme. The Baptist Missionaries were not 
behind-hand. William Knibb again went to England, and the thun- 
der of his eloquence reverberating through the length and breadth of 
the land, awoke the public to a sense of the shameful deception 
practiced upon them. The philanthropy of England was again 
aroused — hundreds of deputations waited* on the government — peti- 
tions signed by upwards of one million persons claimed the fulfilment 
of the solemn contract made for the abolition of slavery, and though 
for a time, the vast power and influence of the " West India Inter- 
est" delayed the boon of liberty, they ultimately succeeded and cut 
short the apprenticeship system on the first of August, 1838. 

UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM. 

It is quite impossible in this scanty sketch to do justice — that am- 
ple justice so well due — to all the noble band that devoted themselves 
to this glorious cause. In Jamaica the apprentices themselves set 
an example of patience, forbearance, and perseverance, not surpassed 
perhaps in the history of the world, while those who comforted, as- 
sisted and prayed with them in the scenes of their distress, endured 
their share of toil and persecution. In England every denomination 
of Christians — all parties, and all sections of the press, sent forth the 
champions of liberty to struggle for the slave. Their reward they 
enjoyed without a drawback when the welcome and astounding news 
arrived that the 800,000 liberated slaves had received their freedom 
on the memorable first of August without the least infringement of 
any law — not a single instance of violence or misconduct having oc- 
curred at that excitable period. 

In Jamaica no case even of intemperance, so far as could be ascer- 
tained was found in any part of the Island. This was indeed a most 
triumphant answer to the often repeated prophecies of ruin, blood- 
shed and rapine, which would follow emancipation. The most com- 
plete demonstration of the peaceful and humanizing effects of liberty 
was afforded on this never-to-be-forgotten and glorious day. And 
how was it celebrated? Details we_must at present exclude, but ob- 
serve that not only the religiously disposed, but the irreligious, 
joined in devout services of thanksgiving to God, acknowledging the 
hand of his Providence as the bestower of this best of gifts — Free- 
dom. Four years previous they had with similar feelings, and with 



22 BAD MANAGEMENT 

the most heart-stirring meetings and rejoicings lauded in the advent 
of conditional liberty ; but now when the full tide of perfect freedom 
rolled its blessings to their feet, their joy knew no bounds — their as- 
tonishment was too great for utterance. At nearly all the churches, 
interesting services were conducted for various purposes, but it would 
be too difficult to select one as an example in this general account. 
It will be enough to add that, whether the meetings were for prayer 
or praise, or speeches, or a public dinner, or the laying a corner- 
stone, or opening a new chapel, or the examination of schools — all 
united in heart- felt gratitude to God, and thankful expressions to Ab- 
olitionists for this inexpressible blessing — their birthright — their 
freedom. 

At nearly all the Missionary stations a funeral ceremony was per- 
formed at 12 o'clock, P. M. 31st July, over the "remains" of slavery — 
and a " Tree of Liberty " planted to memorize the occasion, and mark 
the spot. A coffin containing broken whips, chains, hand-cuffs, col- 
lars, thumb-screws, &C. was lowered into the grave, and while being 
covered with the earth, the, not weeping friends, but conquering ene- 
my sung in triumph the following funeral anthem: — 
*'Now Slavery we lay thy vile form in the dust 

And buried forever there let it remain, 
And rotted and covered with infamy's rust 

Be every man-whip, and fetter and chain." 
O who will not respond to such a sentiment as this? Only those 
who are themselves "covered with infamy's rust." Blessed sight, to 
see the once oppressed and degraded " human chattel" with his foot 
on the grave of slavery, singing its funeral dirge. But the " Tree 
of Liberty" was only just planted, and required the utmost care and 
cultivation. Though the " form " of slavery was dead, its spirit was 
alive, and every effort was made to render the tree unfruitful. This 
has been partially effected by the conduct of the proprietors and 
managers. 

THE OPPOSITION AND BAD MANAGEMENT OF THE 

PLANTERS. 

Some of the newly emancipated laborers actually went to their 
work on the 2nd day of August, and many gave the first week of 
their labor as an offering of conciliation and good will, to their em- 
ployers. Did the latter act as wise men, and try to prevent any fur- 
ther <li sn t -cement, and bury in forgetfulness all the past? Nav— 



OF THE PLANTERS. 23 

they tried by a variety of shameful means, to make free labor so 
cheap, and the free people so helplessly dependent upon them as to 
compensate for the alledged losses of emancipation. When, after the 
rejoicings, the negroes were asked if they were going to « turn out 
to work," the ready reply was, "O yes, massa, if massa pay we."— 
"Well how much a day do you want? " "O massa you know." " I 
know ! how can I know ?" "Because massa tell we the pay. When 
prentice want for buy himsel, Massa swear him worth four bits 
(37 \ cents) a day. Now massa, freeman want dat, and dat's all we 
ask" This fair, honorable, and most reasonable proposal the plant- 
ers indignantly rejected. They offered them twelve and a half cents, 
and some only nine cents per day. This, of course, was rejected ; 
and hence arose a contention that has proved so injurious to the 
planters, and is the chief cause of the diminution of the crops since 
1838. The planters united and agreed not to give above a certain 
rate of wages which was about as follows: 

1st class. — Male laborers, 12J cents ; females 9 cents. 

2nd class. — Men, 9 cents j Females 6£ cents; Boys and Girls from 
3 to 6 cents. 

They were then to live in their houses on the property, and cultivate 
their provision ground rent free— -but subject to summary ejectment. 

The laborers, advised chiefly by the Baptist Missionaries, and a 
few other determined friends, would not listen to these proposals; 
they demanded their full wages. On the other hand the employers 
resorted to the old method of compulsion, though of a different kind. 
The most prominent men were ejected from their houses — the coffee- 
trees, the bread fruit, the cocoa-nut and other trees, were cut down ; 
the provision grounds were taken from the people, and destroyed ; 
and rent and "double rent" was exacted from every tenant. For 
the most wretched hut— the only good houses on the estates were 
built by the slaves themselves in their spare hours — each member of 
the family was required to pay from 25 to 50 cents per week. Ev- 
ery other species of annoyance and persecution followed. — 
The persecuted looked for a refuge, and though the planters 
refused to lease or sell an inch of ground, and used their utmost 
vigilance to prevent others doing so, some was obtained, chief- 
ly by the aid of the Missionaries, who advised the people to persist 

in their demands and to leave the estates. Hence, and from this 
cause only, first arose the " free villages" which soon afforded a wel- 
come shelter from the storm of oppression, and cheered the hearts 
of the still persecuted race. 



/ 



24 THE RESULTS OF 

Such was the beginning of those transactions which to this very 
day are injuring the sugar manufacturer. It is his own' fault. In- 
stead of reconciling himself to the change — paying fair wages, what 
he himself swore to be such, and thus making labor profitable and 
acceptable — instead of cultivating the good will of the laborers, and 
seeking their improvement, he acted in direct hostility to them, and 
to his own interest ; and at the present time the same infatuated spir- 
it actuates a great number of his fellows. Who can wonder, then, 
at the diminution of the crop, and the difficulties of the planter ; and 
who but the insane will not charge the loss to his account? As we 
proceed an answer will be given to the objection so commonly urged, 
namely: that the crops have decreased since the introduction of free- 
dom. That diminution can be traced to other sources than that 
event. It can be proved that emancipation is not chargeable with it, 
or to say the least, that it has not been occasioned either by the lazi- 
ness, or unwillingness, of the negroes to work. 

Another subject of the most interesting importance now claims at- 
tention, and though our limited space forbids extended remarks upon 
it, the best effort will be made to present a true sketch. 

THE RESULTS OF EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA. 

The reader will not forget that this first number is intended only 
as a general introduction to the whole subject, and to excite such an 
interest in it as shall justify the publication of consecutive parts more 
copiously detailing the history and results of Liberty in the Islands 
of the West. 

As was predicted, the dawn of Liberty ushered in the brightest 
day of knowledge and religion that Jamaica had ever witnessed. — 
The clouds and gloomy darkness of African superstition, and Euro- 
pean cruelty gave way before the cheering rays of Freedom's light, 
the genial warmth of which, like the balmy and brilliant sky of the 
Western Isles, called forth the sweetest and most luxuriant flowers 
and fruits. Schools immediately sprang up on all sides — maintained 
generally by the liberality of the people themselves. For the 
wretched policy of the State in supporting one or more sects as a 
dominant party, will in Jamaica, as in England, so long as it lasts, 
prevent a national system of education. But before we give details 
of education and religion, it may be well to afford the reader an idea 



EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA. 25 

of the population of the Island, for which purpose the following table 
is abridged from the census taken in 1844. 

Number of white inhabitants, - 15,776 

« « colored " 68,529 

a « black " .... 293,128 

Total. - - 377,433 

Of these there are 51,707 under 5 years of age. 

47,221 from 5 years to 10 years. 
25,963 above 60 years. 

It is very difficult, indeed next to impossible, to obtain any data on 
which to form a correct statistical table of education. During slav- 
ery th ere were but a few charitable schools, and others in the towns 
badly attended, and almost nothing was done for the education of the 
negroes. In the Apprenticeship something was done, but a variety 
of difficulties prevented the full operation of the schools. In 1841 the 
published reports give the following summary: 

Day schools of all denominations, 186. Sunday schools, 100, and 
20 or 30 evening schools. The number of scholars was reported to 
be 62,240. Since that period the '« Mico schools," an endowed insti- 
tution, have nearly all been closed for want of funds ; and sev- 
eral other schools, formerly supported by the different churches, 
have been abandoned on account of the pressure of debts incurred 
in building, and of the hard times and low wages. These circum- 
stances have very much hindered the extension of education. Ad- 
ded to this, the attendance of the children is very irregular, owing 
to the fact that their active employment with their parents in the 
fields, seems necessary on account of the low wages they obtain. Not- 
withstanding these things, we believe that the number of clay schools 
has increased, and that there could not be less than 500 in the Is- 
land, in the year 1846. The Sunday schools also have abundantly 
increased, and are well attended. 

Much also is done in a private manner, and the adults are very 
generally gaining at home, by personal application, a knowledge cf 
reading and writing. Any one formerly acquainted with the ignor- 
ance of the slaves and apprentices, must be struck with surprise on 
entering a place of worship, to see so large a proportion of the con- 
gregation with books in their hands. The sale of Bibles and Hymn 
books, and the use of Sunday school libraries, has rapidly increased, 
and is quite amazing when compared with olden times. Knowledge 
also is not confined to the schools, — general information is widely 
spreading, and an eagerness to improve and to learn is continual- 



26 THE RESULTS OF 

ly being exemplified in expressions like the following: — "It's the 
head, massa — the head, massa do the work." One old man during 
slavery procured a copy of the alphabet, and being obliged to hide 
it for fear of a flogging, and ask information concerning the names 
of the letters secretly, was twelve months learning it perfectly. — 
But now the gray headed are to be seen every Sunday in the schools 
conning their books with spectacles on, which article, by the way, has 
become quite an item of commerce. The general ability of the schol- 
ars and the character of the schools will not suffer in a comparison 
with those in other countries of the same standing. 

The colored and black people are decidedly a rel igiously disposed 
race, and the increase of the churches, and multiplication of chapels 
since freedom, have been really astonishing. The following tables 
are presented for consideration : 

Number of Ministers in Jamaica in 1831 1841 1846 

State Episcopalian church, 

Presbyterian, .... 

Wesley an Methodists, 

Baptists, .... 

Moravian, .... 

Congregational, Independents, Wesley- 
an Association and American Mis- 
sionaries about - 15 

According to the census of 1844 of all 

denominations, ... 267 

Total, 96 170 267 
The number of accredited members in full communion, exclusive 
of inquirers or catechumens in 1842, were as follows: 

Baptists about .... 30,000 

Wesleyans, .... 23,000 

Moravians, - ... 5,000 

Congregational Independents, - - 2,000 

Presbyterians, - ... 7,000 

American Mission, ... 1,000 

"Wesleyan Association, - - - 4,000 

Total, 72,000 

This is exclusive of the Church Missionary Society, the State 
Episcopal Church, Roman Catholics and "Native" Churches of dif- 
ferent denominations. It has been supposed by those best able to 



1831 


1841 


52 


74 


4 


13 


16 


29 


16 


27 


8 


12 



EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA. 27 

judge that, at that period there were not less than 100,000 real evan- 
gelical christians — and their number has been increasing. This 
shows that more than one-fourth of the population are members of 
churches. Where can such results be exceeded? In 1846 the mem- 
bers had co&siderably increased, but the different reports have not 
come to hand. This statement will be verified by the following list 
showing the greatly augmented number of chapels purchased or 
erected. There is no correct list of those existing in 1832, but it 
may be remarked that about two-thirds of those belonging to the 
" sectarians," that is the dissenters, were destroyed: 

1842 1845 

Number of Chapels belonging to 

the State Episcopal Church SO 74 

Moravian, ----11 10 

Kirk of Scotland, - 2 1 

Presbyterian Mission, - - 12 16 

Congregationalist Mission, - 11 16 

American Mission, 5 5 

Native Baptist, - -■ - 9 45 

Church Missionary Society - 8 — 

Wesleyan, - 50 68 

Wesleyan Association, - 8 11 

Baptists - 60 84 

Native Wesleyan, - 1 

Free Church of Scotland, 1 

Plymouth Brethren, - - — 1 

Catholics, ... — 4 

Jews, - — 4 



Total, 226 342 

Besides these, there are regular preaching stations, chiefly sustain- 
ed by the missionaries, in destitute parts, where temporary sheds or 
private houses are used to proclaim the word of life to the people. 
Will not the reader, on looking over the above figures, come to the 
conclusion that Jamaica is as well supplied with religious privileges 
as almost any country in the world, and that Emancipation must 
have the glory of this blessed result? 

It may be asked if this numerous increase of the churches is any 
evidence of the real state of religion among the people? Much has 
been said against the churches in that country — but it is considered 



28 THE RESULTS OF 

to arise from ignorance of the true condition of affairs, or from 
misrepresentation. From a personal engagement in the work, the 
writer believes that by all the missionaries whom he is acquainted 
with the utmost anxiety is felt and care exercised in admitting mem- 
bers to the churches, and keeping none but the pure in their fellow- 
ship. For real and practical piety the Jamaica churches will bear 
comparison with those of any land, and though, of course, there is 
much imperfection, and their manners and habits are not so refined 
as in more favored parts of the world, yet there is a simplicity and 
sincerity in their religion that would do honor to any body of pro- 
fessing christians. "By their works ye shall know them," is the 
rule by which they caa afford to be judged: and the following account 
of a section with which the writer is most intimately acquainted, 
will enable the candid mind to come to a correct decision. 

In liberality they outdo many others. Take, for example, the Bap- 
tist churches. In 1832 all their chapels, schoolhouses and dwelling 
houses, with the exception of five or six on the south side of the 
Island, were burnt or pulled down. From that time till 1840, sixty 
chapels, schoolhouses, and other mission premises were purchased or 
built, costing not less than $300,000, two-thirds of which, at least, 
was raised in the Island. Since that time to the present, about forty 
more have been added, and from the 1st of January, 1842, the 
churches have supported their Ministers and School Teachers, hav- 
in" only occasional gifts from different persons interested in the wel- 
fare of Jamaica. In 1846, the Society of Friends in London gener- 
ously gave $2500 towards the Schools belonging to the Baptist 
Western Union. The buildings in some instances are not completed, 
and a heavy burden of debt has oppressed the energies of the congrega- 
tions, but these drawbacks have not hindered the general increase of 
the churches, nor their liberality in other respects. In one year, 
1842, they raised $5000 for the African Mission, and always ac- 
cording to their ability are ready for every good work. Their pri- 
vate acts of kindness to their ministers — to the destitute — and to each 
other, are of a deeply interesting character; but we cannot touch 
this subject more. What is said of the Baptists, may be said of all — 
that for christian liberality they are perhaps unsurpassed by any 
churches in the world. "I have reason to believe" says Mr. 
Candler, " from data before me, that the despised negroes of Jamaica 
raise among themselves, by voluntary contributions for chapel build- 
ing and other church purposes, at least $250,000 or $300,000 per 
annum." 



EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA. 29 

Another important evidence of their true piety is the increase of 
morality throughout the Island. Concubinage, which was almost 
universal, and almost necessarily so, is now considered disreputable. 
The "Returns of Marriages," from the Registrar's office, must be 
highly gratifying to the friends of humanity : 

1841. 1842. 1843. 1844. 
No. of Marriages by Dissenters 
up to April, 1841, commenc- 
ing, we suppose, 1st Aug. 1838, 11,(555 5018 1800 1586 
Ditto, by Episcopal Stale church, 2896 1971 1941 1486 
Total Dissenters, 20,059 ; State Church, 8294. 
And what is of the highest importance, and as remarkable, is that 
public opinion thus formed among the colored people is influencing 
the white population. Their morals, loose and corrupt though they 
be,— so much so that the reader would probably start with horror if 
depicted on this page,— are now rapidly improving under the holy 
and genial influences of Freedom. To a great extent, compared 
with former years, they are honoring the long forgotten institution 
of marriage, and at all events concealing from the public gaze the 
evils of which formerly none appeared to be ashamed. 

Another proof is advanced, a Decrease of Crime has taken place 
everywhere. This is the statement of the chief magistrates on the 
bench of the Quarter Sessions and of the Assizes. The fact also, 
must be evident to any one who has in the slightest manner observ- 
ed the progress of the people. Highway robbery is hardly known. 
The Planters are accustomed to send a boy some 20 or 30 miles with 
a check on the Bank, or on a merchant, for one or two thousand dol- 
lars, who carries it back on his mule with perfect safety. Thefts 
and robberies are more common, but these have gradually decreased. 
Swearing, and drunkenness, are quite uncommon. It not unfrequent- 
ly happens that the courts have no cases brought before them, and 
often those presented are of a very trivial nature. In the petty, or 
magistrates' courts, there is more litigation, arising from non-pay- 
ment of debts, quarrels and other matters. These used to be settled 
by the masters formerly, but everything now appears before the 
Justices. Indeed, the people have been too ready to exercise their 
new rights in this respect. It in some cases occurs that the most 
vexatious proceedings arise from the tyranny or the overbearing con- 
duct of the overseers, in a few instances from the corruption of the 
magistrates, and frequently from the violence of the Police. 



30 THE RESULTS OP 

So important is it to show that crime is becoming less frequent, 
that it is thought best to give some extended, evidence on this point^ 
and with this view the following extracts are-given: 

Dr. Davy (who, if we are not mistaken, was a magistrate) writes, 
in 1839, "The Parish over which I preside contains 22,000 souls' 
There is no crime in it now. The jail has only 3 inmates— one old 
conv.ct,an< two persons for assault." Mr. Candler, in 1839 an 
eye-witness, having visited the Island on a special tour of inspection, 
writes, "Crime is d.m.n.shing. The prisons at Kingston, to which 
city, as to a common sewer, the scum and filth of the population 
naturally flow, are, perhaps, as full as they used to be; but the jails 
in the rura districts have very few inmates. In Falmouth, the 
capital of the large parish of Trelawney, two weeks ago, only two 
^prisoners were brought up to the sessions for trial ; one was ac- 
quitted and the other was sentenced to a week's imprisonment. At 

«pnnffn V^ Chief t( r no[l te Paiish of Clarendon, containing 
20,000 inhabitants, the prisons last year were thrown open at 
several diflerent times, and on one occasion, for eight days together 
there was not a prisoner within the walls. At one of the Quarter 
bess.ons at \[a 11; !oville, not a single prisoner was brought up for 
trial In the jail at Mbrant Bay I found four English sailors com- 
muted for an assault, but not a single black or colored person ! At 

u ? T n J?n m0 ' ? shi PP! n 8 lovvn > fourteen persons of every class; and 
"at Bufl Bay. eleven." J 

Well raig Lionel Smith, the Governor of Jamaica, answer 

the address of the Baptist Western Union, upon his retirement from 
office in 1839: - Gentlemen, the first year of freedom has passed 
away. \\ ha' wero the forebodings of its enemies? Where are 
the vagrants? \\ here the squatters? Where the injuries against 
properties or the persons of white men? Out of the 300.000 on- 
" pressed slaves let loose in one day to equal rights and liberty, not 
a human being of that mass has committed himself in any of those 
dreaded offences. The admirable conduct of the peasantry in such 
a crisis, has constituted a proud triumph to the cause of Religion- 
and those who contributed to enlighten them in their moral duties, 
through persecutions, insults and dangers, have deserved the regard 
and esteem of the good and just in all christian countries." 
Ir .corroboration, .of these statements, the Queen said in her proro- 
gation speech to Parliament, 10th August, 1839: "The conduct of 
the emancipated negroes, throughout, the West Indies, has been re- 

«Z t , -ii ?u tra .° q ob t dience t0 the law and a peaceful demean- 
our in all the relations of social life. » 

The following years are marked with the same features as the 
first year of Freedom. It is not intended that these quotations should 
convey the idea that there was no crime; there was considerable in 
some district.,— but they are offered to show, what is scarcely ever 
seen in any country, courts meeting without prisoners, and jails. 



EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA. 31 

without inmates ! Besides the general favorable impression this 
must make, it will be shown before the extracts are concluded, that 
offences have greatly diminished in numbers. 

The three next are taken from the '• Morning Journal," a paper 
not much inclined to favor the black people: 

"A Court of Quarter Sessions was held at Rodney Hall, bt. 1 nom- 
« as-in-the-Vale, August 8, 1842, T. W. Jackson, Esq., Chairman. 
« "The Chairman addressed the Grand Jury, briefly remarking up- 
"on the light state of the Calendar, which contained no cases of un- 
« usual importance. A few cases which had lain over from last court 
" were disposed of;, after which> there being no bills, the Grand Jury 
"were discharged, and the court adjourned." 

IMPROVEMENT IN THE TIMES. 

Kingston, March 22, 1843v 

"Our readers will be surprised, and we doubt not pleased, to learn 
"that for the last five days not a single prisoner has been taken up / 
"and committed to the cage of this city t. We record this fact with 
" great pleasure, as we believe such a circumstance never occured 
" since the building of the city. 

DIMINUTION OF CRIME. 

• 

"It is extremely pleasing to find that in Kingston and the adjoining 
" parishes of St. Andrews and Port Royal, crime continues to decrease, 
"This pleasing fact is evidenced by the charge of the Hon. Mayo 
" Short in his address to the Grand Jury on the 20th May last, 1845." 

Other parishes than those already named, afforded the same de- 
lightful evidence. In Trelawney, a parish of 25,000 souls, the calen- 
dar of the Quarter Sessions for the year 1844, presented only 13 
cases ! In Hanover, a parish nearly as populous, there are very 
often, to the writer's own personal knowledge, not more than six or 
seven prisoners in the jail for debt, for trial and for punishment. 

To sum up the whole matter, we shall now give the latest intelli- 
gence offered to the public in the speech of Judge McDougal to the 
Grand Jury of the Surry Assizes, February, 1846. He addressed 

those gentlemen on this subject as follows: " Another important docu-i 
" meat has been furnished me by Mr. Lambert; it is a report of the 
"number of convictions which have taken place during the last seven 
" years, from 1839 to 1845 inclusive, in all our criminal courts of 
" Assizes and Quarter Sessions, including also, cases of larceny un- 
" der five shillings tried at petty sessions. This return exhibits a 
" very satisfactory result; it shows that in the year 1845 there has 
" been an evident decrease in the former amount of crime. During 



32 THE RESULTS OF % 

"the period from 1839 to 1842 the return shows a progressive in- 
crease of convictions, arising in all probability from the very active 
"employment of the police in the detection of offenders, from that 
11 time there has been a diminution of the progressive increase, and 
"in 1845 there has been a corresponding diminution of the pro- 
" gressive increase of crime, and consequently in the amount of con- 
" victions. From this, gentlemen, youmaycome to a safe conclusion, 
"that there is, in point of fact, a large decrease in crime throughout 
" the country. " 

Auother evidence of the favorable and improving state of society 
is produced by the same Judge, when he remarks, '• That from 
"the report of the Inspector General, and from data which he 
" gives in returns from England and America, whilst the aver- 
" a<*e rate of re-convictiu lose countries is as one in four. 

" is only one in ten in I i the last quarter on<. 

"twenty-five! In a Mr. Hill, I eral 

"of Prisons in ions have been returned as 

" one in three, an: steady people." 

Some explai ive to certain parts 

of this add v cannot 

refrain, however, fro 
Journal, 1 ' on the i 

Such a people do is they have 

en, as idle, imm Idleness is the 

** fruitful moth 're fore impossible 

«for an return of offences 

If these returns, 
«theref factorily estab- 

lished that the people of an idle race. 11 

These pleasi are amazing, 

when we consider the f and degrading influence 

f s ] av . to turn men into We might 

reasonably expee >n duplicity, sensua 

how altered now ! 
p re ns as with one 

bound to spring to th nan. Indeed, they were 

not men before— but raised to their right- 

and natural con ihe inspiration of ..mighty which 

eth un I :rstanding has resum power— ihey act as men and 

no'. 



